🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $923 in Szolnok versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,393 in Szolnok versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,862 in Szolnok versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Szolnok costs roughly 61% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szolnok is 31% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.73Ft 2,435
$17.15€14.86
-54.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.96Ft 12.6K
$68.1€58.9
-41.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94Ft 2,500
$13.64€11.82
-41.79%
Cappuccino
$1.95Ft 613
$2.78€2.41
-29.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40Ft 441
$2.82€2.44
-50.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14Ft 358
$1.96€1.70
-41.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92Ft 604
$4.43€3.84
-56.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33Ft 736
$4.61€3.99
-49.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78Ft 247
$1.27€1.10
-38.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Ft 346
$2.13€1.85
-48.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61Ft 506
$1.99€1.72
-19.10%
Eggs
$2.21Ft 695
$3.37€2.92
-34.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.27Ft 1,975
$18.96€16.42
-66.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.29Ft 1,667
$9.53€8.26
-44.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.87Ft 3,424
$18.73€16.22
-41.96%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19Ft 374
$2.65€2.29
-55.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Ft 475
$2.35€2.04
-35.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33Ft 419
$2.09€1.81
-36.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09Ft 658
$2.73€2.37
-23.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94Ft 295
$1.96€1.70
-52.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91Ft 287
$1.81€1.56
-49.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00Ft 314
$1.51€1.31
-33.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32Ft 99.8
$0.89€0.77
-64.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.39Ft 2,013
$6.78€5.87
-5.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.82Ft 1,203
$7.92€6.86
-51.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76Ft 238
$1.37€1.19
-44.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09Ft 343
$2.40€2.08
-54.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01Ft 317
$2.91€2.52
-65.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.23Ft 7,634
$28.66€24.82
-15.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53Ft 799
$4.58€3.96
-44.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16Ft 364
$2.04€1.77
-43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.88Ft 4,374
$28.72€24.87
-51.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68Ft 530
$1.82€1.58
-7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KFt 5.6M
$39.3K€34.0K
-54.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KFt 10.9M
$32.5K€28.1K
6.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104Ft 32.7K
$187€162
-44.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.01Ft 7,563
$22.29€19.30
7.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19Ft 5,417
$36.37€31.50
-52.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6Ft 16.6K
$57.5€49.82
-8.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.41Ft 2,648
$20.74€17.96
-59.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.27Ft 2,291
$10.77€9.33
-32.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$143Ft 44.9K
$725€628
-80.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,470Ft 1.1M
$15.2K€13.1K
-77.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5Ft 17.2K
$87.9€76.1
-37.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.10Ft 8,537
$36.81€31.88
-26.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.5Ft 20.3K
$103€89.6
-37.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.1Ft 21.4K
$119€103
-42.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$323Ft 101.6K
$1,524€1,319
-78.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275Ft 86.6K
$1,227€1,062
-77.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$486Ft 153.3K
$2,727€2,362
-82.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Ft 122.6K
$1,984€1,718
-80.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,070Ft 652.3K
$7,469€6,468
-72.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,694Ft 533.9K
$5,243€4,541
-67.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,077Ft 339.2K
$2,393€2,072
-55.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.26
3.39
202.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szolnok: July 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Szolnok and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 122% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Szolnok vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $319 per month, with Szolnok cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Szolnok vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szolnok and in Barcelona?
Szolnok and Barcelona differ by about 156% in total monthly costs ($923 vs $2,359 including rent). Szolnok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 122% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Szolnok and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $323 in Szolnok versus $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $143 in Szolnok versus $725 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $923 in Szolnok versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Szolnok but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Szolnok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Szolnok or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szolnok and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Szolnok or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Szolnok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.